Shooter still on the loose

Local law enforcement are still searching for the man who opened fire on a clerk during a vicious shooting at the Rich Oil gas station along the Beverly Five-lane in Elkins Friday night.

Although officials have yet to crack the case, Brady said Monday the sheriff’s office is leaving no stone unturned.

“We are following up on all leads that are being provided to us by community members,” Brady said.

“We’ve received several calls from the public, and the state police as well as the city police are working with us. We are combing the area in an effort to determine who the suspect is.”

Brady, though, said there are no persons of interest at this time.

“We consider this person armed and dangerous due to the fact that he fired several rounds at the clerk and was armed with firearms,” Brady cautioned.

“We ask the public to be very vigilant and pay attention to any suspicious persons outside of any businesses.”

According to previous reports, a white male wearing dark-colored pants, a dark-colored jacket and a hooded sweatshirt approached the gas station just after 11 p.m. Friday and fired several shots at clerk Shawn Townsend. The shooter then reportedly ran away, heading in the direction of Glenmore Loop Road.

Randolph County Sheriff Mark Brady has described the shooter as being between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-9 inches tall and weighing approximately 135 to 150 pounds.

Townsend, the victim in the shooting, has been released from the hospital, Brady said. He suffered a severe eye injury, resulting in partial loss of his vision, as well as facial injuries caused by either shattered glass or bullet fragments.

“A bullet actually grazed the top of his head,” Brady said. “An inch lower would have resulted in his death.”

Anyone with any information is asked to call RCSO via the nonemergency number for the Randolph County E-911 Center at 304-637-3561 or the anonymous tip line at 304-636-TIPS (304-636-8477).

“We are taking this incident very seriously and devoting our resources to trying to bring this person to justice,” Brady said.